NPR Names Online Head

NPR has named Amazon.com executive Maria Thomas as vice president for NPR Online. Thomas will lead a team of writers; programmers and designers, who will continue to enhance npr.org's content, increase traffic to the site and expand services for NPR member stations. Thomas comes to NPR from Amazon.com. There, Thomas directed various Internet operations including the launch and management of the largest segment of Amazon.com's partnership with the Kodak company Ofoto, a partnership that included camera and photo store and online photo services. Prior to joining Amazon.com, Ms. Thomas spent seven years as an investment officer with the World Bank's private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, in Washington.